Multiform backpack

ABSTRACT

A multiform backpack includes a back portion provided with first disengageable connecting means and a pair of shoulder straps equipped with coupling means, and a variety of flexible bodies with different shapes and configurations selectively interchangeable with each other, and equipped with respective second connecting means complementary to the first connecting means for the union to the back portion, as well as fastening elements for the coupling means of the shoulder straps.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to backpacks of the type comprising abody, typically made of flexible material, provided with shoulder strapsfor its transport by the user.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

In some known backpacks, including those successfully produced andmarketed by the Applicant, the shoulder straps are partially or evencompletely separable from the body: for example, in the case of Europeanpatent application EP-A-2155013, the shoulder straps are equipped withrapid coupling elements to corresponding coupling means of the body, inone or the other of two different mutually inverted configurations ofthis body, which is reversible. The user is then capable of being ableto use the backpack selectively in one or the other configuration of thebody, which essentially only differ from each other in their aestheticappearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes the object of making a wider range ofdifferent configurations of the backpack available to the user, with apractical, functional and relatively inexpensive production.

According to the invention, this object is achieved thanks to amultiform backpack whose unique characteristic lies in the fact that itcomprises a back portion provided with first disengageable connectingmeans and a pair of shoulder straps provided with coupling means, and avariety of flexible bodies of different shapes and configurations,selectively interchangeable and equipped with respective secondconnecting means, complementary to said first connecting means for theunion to the back portion, as well as fastening elements for the saidcoupling means of the shoulder straps.

Thanks to this solution idea, the user of the backpack, while the backportion with shoulder straps remains unchanged, can easily interchangethe body with one or more different bodies, not only in relation totheir look or exterior design, but also in relation to functionalelements, such as, for example, a different subdivision of the innerspace, the presence of external pockets etc.

The first and second connecting means of the back portion and of thedifferent flexible bodies, respectively, can be selected from closingzippers, snap-fit buckles, snap fasteners, microhook strips and thelike.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings, provided purely by way of non-limitingexample, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a first possibleconfiguration of the multiform backpack according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a back, exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are two analogous views of Figure that exemplify differentrespective possible configurations of the multiform backpack accordingto the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Initially referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the backpack according to theinvention essentially consists of two elements, which are separable fromeach other: a back portion 1, which constitutes a unified component, anda flexible body 2 which, according to the unique aspect of theinvention, is available and selectable in a variety of shapes andconfigurations that differ in an aesthetic and/or functional point ofview.

The back portion, 1 made, for example, from a padded flexible, orrelatively soft, sheet is equipped with a pair of shoulder straps 3preferably permanently joined at one end to the top of the back portion1 and provided at the opposite end with respective coupling means 4formed, for example, by elastic snap hooks, attachable to correspondingrings 5 applied at the lower area of the body 2.

The back portion 1 and the body 2 are equipped with a rapiddisengageable connecting system consisting, in the case of theillustrated example, of a pair of closing zippers whose parts 6 a, 6 bare applied, respectively, along the sides of the back portion 1, and atopposite sides of the back wall of the body 2. It should be noted thatthis connecting method could alternatively consist of mutually engagingsnap-fasteners, poppers, microhook strips and the like.

To further ensure the coupling between the back portion 1 and the body2, further removable union-elements may also be provided for, formed,for example, by male and female fastening snap-buckles 7, 8, applied,respectively, to the upper areas of the shoulder straps 3 and to the topof the flexible body 2.

As mentioned above, the back portion 1 forms a unified component withthe shoulder straps 3, which can be applied to a plurality of differentflexible bodies made available on the market, which are distinguishablefrom each other, partly due to the outer appearance, and partly due totheir functional configurations. The example of the body 2, representedin the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 and those indicated, respectively, by2 a and 2 b in FIGS. 3 and 4, precisely show certain differences of thefunctional character in relation to the presence or absence of outerpockets and to the access openings within the body, in which the innervolume can also be distributed differently. The differences can alsorefer to designs and colors.

Of course, the details of construction and the embodiments may varywidely with respect to those described and illustrated, withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

1. (canceled)
 2. A backpack according to claim 3, wherein said first andsecond connecting means are selected from a group consisting of closingzippers, snap-fit buckles, poppers, and microhook strips.
 3. A backpackcomprising: a back portion provided with first disengageable connectingmeans and a variety of flexible bodies of different shapes andconfigurations selectively interchangeable with each other and equippedwith respective second connecting means, complementary to said firstconnecting means, for a union to said back portion, and said backportion equipped with a pair of shoulder straps, each shoulder strap ofsaid pair of should straps permanently joined at a first end to a top ofsaid back portion, each shoulder strap provided at an upper area thereofwith a respective upper fastening element for a removable connectionwith a respective union element provided on a top of each flexible bodyof the flexible bodies, and each shoulder strap provided at a second endopposite to said first end with a respective coupling hook attachable toa corresponding ring applied at a lower area of each flexible body ofthe flexible bodies.